Peeks at our Georgian Renovation & Let’s Catch Up!

I’m sharing a few pics of our reno progress, and if you stick with this post to the end, I’m giving you a peek of an almost finished space at the new house! Good gracious, all kinds of technical issues with daily posts getting sent to your email so I apologize and am working on a solution. Please visit stories from the past week that you may have missed like this one:

Blue check curtains, terracotta hex tiles, and clawfoot tub in a Provence farmhouse (Le Mas des Poiriers).
Visit THIS STORY to see more of Shauna Varvel’s beautiful home!

Please do pin like crazy on these posts that didn’t get sent to subscribers – the week was a disaster for traffic, and I need all the help I can get which is what happens when you pin to Pinterest.

Peeks at the Georgian Reno & Stories Not to Be Missed

Behind the Blog…I’m busier than ever this summer with all sorts of DIY renovation, redecorating, and reimagining at the new Georgian style house.

We’re in the middle of the kitchen renovation, and everything about it is hard.

Hello Lovely's kitchen renovation in a traditional Georgian home - custom plaster range hood and farm sink. #hellolovelystudio #kitchenrenovation
Our first time creating a custom range hood that will be plastered

Why? This is not like our prior home renovation where we gutted the space, ordered cabinets, counters, hardwoods, and appliances and then did the finishing details (backsplash tile, trim, plaster, decor). It’s a much more delicate process since we’re repurposing nearly everything.

Nantucket Sinks farm sink in kitchen under construction - Hello Lovely Studio. #farmsinks #kitchenrenovation

This process unlike gutting, demands much more labor and thoughtfulness. For example, I felt we should save these cabinets even though I could have easily justified starting fresh. But refinishing existing cabinetry involves lots of DIY!

For this kitchen, we moved the cooktop (and switched from electric to gas), reconfigured existing cabinets, retrofitted a sink base to accommodate a farm sink, and made major changes to the pantry. We painted all woodwork (not for the weak…4 coats of primer!), and are in the process of painting cabinets.

Inspiring kitchen design elements guiding our renovation plans - Hello Lovely Studio.

The above image is an assemblage of the color story and finishes for the kitchen design.

We also installed new lighting and still have floors to demo!

Encouragement quote on Hello Lovely Studio. #encouragementquotes #strugglequote

As far as my physical health – things have been tricky since September. I’m in the middle of a Crohn’s flare with new to me symptoms. I sort of freaked out for a few days worrying about my pancreatic health (I have BRCA genetic mutation which significantly increases my vulnerability to pancreatic cancer, and I have had bouts with pancreatitis since 2018).

My sweet grand kitty asleep in white sheets - Hello Lovely Studio. #sleepingcats

However, we think it is more likely bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine which will take time to resolve but isn’t nearly as serious as I feared. Yay! I’ll keep you posted and have already begun treatment.

(Isn’t my grand-kitty Pony Boy beautiful as he dreams above? I recently kept him for a week along with the pretty pittie apple of my eye.)

Struggle quote on Hello Lovely Studio. #strugglequotes #selfcarequote #selfkindness

I’m so thankful that we have had so many sunny days since they lift my spirit, provide vitamin D, and draw me outdoors to commune with nature. Because of my issues with weather changes (fun fact: since last September, I have Raynaud’s), the warm weather means I don’t have to fear painful episodes.

Primitive dining table, whitewashed hardwood flooring and tabby under table - Hello Lovely Studio. #tabbycats #diningroomtable

I’ll have to come up with a plan soon for the winter since I can no longer tolerate cold months in the Midwest. Have a beach house that needs a resident fairy, January through March? 🙂

This is our dining room (above) where we refinished the hardwoods. (As promised, keep reading, and I’ll show you more of it at the end of this post!). The photo below shows you how dark those floors were when we bought the place:

wall in foyer during construction
Self-care quote on Hello Lovely Studio about needs beyond love. #selfcarequotes #selfkindness

Thanks so much for visiting this space and praying for me on this journey. I used to be apologetic about all the complicated layers of my personal experience with its joy and suffering. No more. And I’m no longer interested in making any of it look easy since it most certainly is not.

Lots of drawers and pull outs in my new pretty DIY closet - Hello Lovely Studio. #closettowers #customcloset #closetupgrade
My closet/office at our new Georgian style home.

Others may have a more challenging journey, but that doesn’t make mine any less traumatic. Thank goodness for grace, mercy, prayer, and friendship. And thank goodness for all of you joining me in support through the years – come what may.

Grief quote on Hello Lovely Studio. #strugglequotes #griefquotes #selfcarequotes

You’re a blessing. (Do you agree with my thoughts in this pin above?)

Here’s the story spotlighting a French foyer by Joanna Gaines:

Get the look of the French foyer in Fixer Upper's Club House episode - Hello Lovely!

Before that, I shared our prior whole house renovation:

My serene European country inspired bedroom with Stikwood (Hamptons) statement wall, white oak flooring, and bead board detailed furniture - Hello Lovely Studio.

For a break from the stress of life, this post with ridiculous tweets may bring a giggle:

Funny tweet about the 18th century - Hello Lovely Studio. #funnytweets #timequotes

Bet you’ll find something inspiring in this romantic interiors and paint colors tour:

Brit Jones designed mud room with light blue grey cabinets, brick floor, and SW Alabaster paint color on walls. #swalabaster #mudrooms

If breezy coastal style is your jam, these bedrooms (with blue) from a favorite coastal cottage in South Carolina will charm:

Beautiful coastal porch with hanging bed swing and blue painted ceiling - Lisa Furey. #southernporch #porchswings

Finally, do not miss this story about Patina Living and the Giannettis:

Patina Farm interior with limestone flooring, plaster walls, European antiques and magnificent architecture - Giannetti Home. #patinafarm #oldworldstyle #californiafrench

Here’s that peek I teased you about – it’s the foyer and dining room, and YES (1) we added a wall and (2) that’s a real fireplace we installed in the place there was a built-in china cabinet. The primitive table is the one I had in our former entry, but we sanded the dark finish off.

Sooooo many details and labor in just the foyer – we are truly insane.

Hello Lovely's Georgian house renovation - mural in foyer, hardwood floors, fireplace in dining room. #diningrooms #treemural #hellolovely

Will you stay tuned for more updates?

Peace to you right where you are.

-michele

Shop for items you already intended to buy on Amazon RIGHT HERE, and also find home decor here to keep decor inspiration flowing on Hello Lovely!

I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.

Hello Lovely is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

White Slipcovered Sofa
SHOP MY HOME!
29″ Whitewashed Table Lamp Set of 2
White Matelasse Quilt on MY BED
SHOP MY BATH!
Trees White Wallpaper Mural
Round Farmhouse Table
Myla Slipcover Sofa
Deconstructed Wingback Bed
French Farmhouse Dining Table
Milagro Heart
Slipcovered Dining Chair
Rustic Farmhouse Stool
Edgecombe End Table
Parisian Style Iron Table Lamp  33.5″
Black or Bronze Accent Table
French Stripe Basket Set
White Cotton Crochet Bed Skirt
French Country Rattan Basket Set
Marble Subway Mosaic Tile
Rattan Basket With Lid
White Ruffle Bedding
Seagrass Basket Set
Schumacher Wild Things Wallpaper
Slipcovered Sofa
Upholstered Dining Arm Chair
Shop My Breakfast Nook
White Matelasse Quilt
Tree Mural Wallpaper
Faux Potted French Lavender
Shaw Daybed
Distressed White French Country Chandelier
French Country Headboard
Oval Back Counter Stool, Set of 2
Antique Brass Pharmacy Floor Lamp
Round French Tufted Ottoman
Kinston Wood Bench
Italian Candelabra Chandelier
Slipcovered Linen Chair
Warner Upholstered Bench
Rustic Country French Dresser
Laurel Wreath Mirror
Round Farmhouse Dining Table
Reclaimed Wood Dresser
Louis Upholstered Bench
Pardon My French Doormat
Stripe Turkish Towel Throw
Pamela Arm Chair
Sweater Weave Basket
French Carved Wood Chandelier
Terracotta Pots & Basket
French Country Wood Chandelier
French Linen Dining Chair
Gustavian Cabinet
French Farmhouse Dining Table
Bar Stool
Beachy White Slipcovered Sofa
Rattan Armchair
Diptyque Oyedo Candle
Cross Back Dining Chair
French Country Candle Holder
French Industrial Metal Chairs (4)
Designer Favorite Wall Mirror
Holborn Lantern Pendant
French Country 6-Light Chandelier
Tray Side Table
French Country Upholstered Arm Chair
Wicker Trunk Set
French Ticking Stripe Pillow
Jute Area Rug
Mohair Throw
Rustic Industrial Farmhouse Shelves
Belgian Linen Sofa
White Duvet & Bedding
Rustic Wood Candlestick Set
French Market Basket
Linen Modern Wing Chair
French Country Farmhouse Baskets
Concrete Pillar Table Lamp
Boheme Madera Bench
Belgian Style Lamp
Kendall Skirted Dining Chair
White Charleston Sofa
Scrubbed Wood 5-Light Chandelier
Arched Champagne Wall Mirror
Moravian Star 1-Light Pendant
Highback Armchair
Mini Pendant Light
White Vase Set
Round Woven Placemat Set
Cashmere Throw With Fringe
Wreath Doormat
Fireclay Farm Sink (Reinhard, 30″)
White Waffle Coverlet
Light Grey Vienna Quilt
Boheme Madera Bench
Belgian Linen Duvet Set
Round Marble Side Table
Rustic Pedestal Farm Table
Rattan Hanging Chair Swing
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20 Comments

  1. July 13, 2022 / 8:32 pm

    Michele, I am sorry that you are not feeling well, you have a lot on your plate and it has got to be incredibly hard to “show up” every day on the blog, and in life. You are in my prayers my friend. Rest if you need it.
    Your sneak peak is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE IT and cannot wait to see more of all of your hard work.
    xo Elizabeth

    • Michele
      Author
      July 13, 2022 / 9:21 pm

      I love that you are the first person commenting on this post which I just penned! Hahahaha – you are lovely, Elizabeth. Thank you thank you thank you for the love. xox

    • Amy
      July 14, 2022 / 7:17 am

      I LOVE IT TOO! Wow …that foyer/dining room with mural (& is that a piece of the mural framed over the fireplace?!) is so unique & beautiful!!! No cookie-cutter reno for you! Haha! Love love the sanded natural wood floors…❤️light wood floors for so many reasons. Your mood board for the kitchen is breathtaking…the marble/marble-like samples with more movement along with the brass/gold touches…lovely. And the sanded table is perfect! I just bought a pine table for $50 @ thriftstore this week in order to sand also. I can’t tell… but did you also sand the legs of your table or not? Just curious. So thankful you’re health scare was nothing more serious!! Praying for strength to persevere and relief in your symptom and peace/joy in the midst of it
      all.

      • Michele
        Author
        July 14, 2022 / 8:37 am

        Thanks so much! Those wood floors took some thought, and when I share how we got the effect, it may cause a revolution! Hahahaha. We’re pretty stoked about getting a look that doesn’t just work with our belongings but is far easier to live with since they already look aged. The marble is calacatta gold, and we fell in love with using it in the kitchen. That made choosing a quartz a little easier since we limited ourselves to what worked with the stone. Using gold, antique brass, and warm metals is new for me but with all the grey, I knew I would want it. I’m pretty sure my husband only lightly sanded the table’s legs since that is a big job. We didn’t use any chemicals, and I sealed the top with a wax that dries matte. Thank you for your prayers – I have a plan in place, feel energized to get disciplined, and have a plan B if my symptoms don’t resolve in the next month. Leaning on some pretty spectacular arms. 🙂

  2. MaryK
    July 14, 2022 / 8:05 am

    Blessings and peace to you Michele. You are truly grace under pressure. Thank you for sharing your photos.

    • Michele
      Author
      July 14, 2022 / 8:31 am

      Thanks so much, friend. Can’t wait to share more with you, my patient lovely followers. Maybe I’m just too tired and old to make anything look easy anymore and smart enough to know it truly doesn’t help anyone to move through the world that way! Trusting the maker of my heart even though I cannot see. 🙂

  3. Cathy
    July 14, 2022 / 8:57 am

    My goodness! I have been worried about you since I have not received any posts in my inbox! Hang in there. This too shall pass🙏🏻🙏🏻

    • Michele
      Author
      July 14, 2022 / 9:45 am

      Thank you sooooo much, Cathy. The email glitch is unrelated to my condition, but mercy I am being stretched in new ways. Who can say where this journey will lead? Thank you for the prayers – I just want to keep trusting in what I cannot see with a very surrendered posture low to the earth and ready to receive. xox

  4. Suzi
    July 14, 2022 / 9:12 am

    Altogether lovely, Michele! Praying for you as you go through your very challenging health journey, asking the one who knit you together to continue enveloping you in grace and refuge.

    • Michele
      Author
      July 14, 2022 / 9:43 am

      Ooooh, I love that prayer, Suzi. Thank you. Thank you for lifting my name. It matters. What joy when a body can actually feel the vibrations of others aligning with Source, with pure love, with the maker of our souls. xox

  5. Samina
    July 14, 2022 / 10:18 am

    Beautiful!

    • Michele
      Author
      July 14, 2022 / 11:25 am

      Thanks so much – now to muster up some energy to get back to the labor! Peace to you.

  6. Pam
    July 14, 2022 / 10:19 am

    OHHH, your sneak peek did not disappoint! That foyer, and that fireplace, and the way the mural carries on over the fireplace! Wowza, amazing! I’m sorry about your flare, and I’m glad that at least your pancreas isn’t an issue. Hang in there, friend. Praying for you. If you find that beach house, let me know, and we’ll share the rent! 🙂

    • Michele
      Author
      July 14, 2022 / 11:24 am

      So glad you like it – can you believe I haven’t even begun decorating since we’re still in the beginning stages of getting the bones right? That is why I am so shy about posting pics at this in between stage. 🙂 Thanks so much for following along and for the support and prayers. I need em. 🙂 I’ll keep you posted on any beachy leads!

  7. July 14, 2022 / 3:16 pm

    Hello! I’m a recent subscriber and LOVE your content. I’m an interior designer, a breast cancer survivor, a BRCA2 carrier with a rare autoimmune disease and I’ve been on my own gut health journey for the past year. I spent most of last year in a diagnosis phase that pointed to cancer on all fronts but it was actually the autoimmune disease! I would love to connect to share some insight on what I’ve learned with respect to gut cleansing.

    • Michele
      Author
      July 14, 2022 / 5:25 pm

      Hi Kristen. So happy to meet you. Would love to hear about your journey and autoimmune diagnosis and wisdom. My email: michele at hellolovelystudio dot com. Methane SIBO seems to be giving me grief, and I’m researching vagus nerve issues since I have neck arthritis & scoliosis – damage may be impacting valves in small intestine and pancreas. I have nearly given up on a solid diagnosis – positive for autoimmune yet we don’t know if it reflects Crohn’s (diagnosed age 18) or something else. Suspected Lupus last fall when the Raynaud’s was an issue, and results after blood work actually said “consistent with Lupus” yet rheumatologist didn’t confirm it. Gut health and immune system are so closely related, and all of the uncertainty is enough to drive anyone insane!

  8. Marilyn S.
    July 14, 2022 / 3:53 pm

    Speechless just speechless! It is amazingly beautiful and just oh so lovely – It was truly worth waiting for .

    God sure does have you in the palm of his hand – he carries you , goes before you, walks beside you and always has your back. Not to mention the gift he has given you in the form of a husband .

    Thanks for sharing

    • Michele
      Author
      July 14, 2022 / 5:05 pm

      Your words are so lifegiving, Marilyn. Thank you, my friend, for energizing these tired bones. He has me. Yep. And the husband – you are absolutely right. He is an amazing partner and takes good care of us. Thank you for reading and supporting me with such love.

  9. Margarita W.
    July 15, 2022 / 11:21 am

    Just Wow Michele! It’s sooo good! You’ve got me on the edge of my seat. I know how important good health is and how it affects how much you can accomplish in a day. Most importantly please take care of yourself.

    • Michele
      Author
      July 15, 2022 / 9:15 pm

      Thank you, friend. Excited to share more progress – we worked hard all day at it! 🙂

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Let’s SHOP!

White Slipcovered Sofa
SHOP MY HOME!
29″ Whitewashed Table Lamp Set of 2
White Matelasse Quilt on MY BED
SHOP MY BATH!
Trees White Wallpaper Mural
Round Farmhouse Table
Myla Slipcover Sofa
Deconstructed Wingback Bed
French Farmhouse Dining Table
Milagro Heart
Slipcovered Dining Chair
Rustic Farmhouse Stool
Edgecombe End Table
Parisian Style Iron Table Lamp  33.5″
Black or Bronze Accent Table
French Stripe Basket Set
White Cotton Crochet Bed Skirt
French Country Rattan Basket Set
Marble Subway Mosaic Tile
Rattan Basket With Lid
White Ruffle Bedding
Seagrass Basket Set
Schumacher Wild Things Wallpaper
Slipcovered Sofa
Upholstered Dining Arm Chair
Shop My Breakfast Nook
White Matelasse Quilt
Tree Mural Wallpaper
Faux Potted French Lavender
Shaw Daybed
Distressed White French Country Chandelier
French Country Headboard
Oval Back Counter Stool, Set of 2
Antique Brass Pharmacy Floor Lamp
Round French Tufted Ottoman
Kinston Wood Bench
Italian Candelabra Chandelier
Slipcovered Linen Chair
Warner Upholstered Bench
Rustic Country French Dresser
Laurel Wreath Mirror
Round Farmhouse Dining Table
Reclaimed Wood Dresser
Louis Upholstered Bench
Pardon My French Doormat
Stripe Turkish Towel Throw
Pamela Arm Chair
Sweater Weave Basket
French Carved Wood Chandelier
Terracotta Pots & Basket
French Country Wood Chandelier
French Linen Dining Chair
Gustavian Cabinet
French Farmhouse Dining Table
Bar Stool
Beachy White Slipcovered Sofa
Rattan Armchair
Diptyque Oyedo Candle
Cross Back Dining Chair
French Country Candle Holder
French Industrial Metal Chairs (4)
Designer Favorite Wall Mirror
Holborn Lantern Pendant
French Country 6-Light Chandelier
Tray Side Table
French Country Upholstered Arm Chair
Wicker Trunk Set
French Ticking Stripe Pillow
Jute Area Rug
Mohair Throw
Rustic Industrial Farmhouse Shelves
Belgian Linen Sofa
White Duvet & Bedding
Rustic Wood Candlestick Set
French Market Basket
Linen Modern Wing Chair
French Country Farmhouse Baskets
Concrete Pillar Table Lamp
Boheme Madera Bench
Belgian Style Lamp
Kendall Skirted Dining Chair
White Charleston Sofa
Scrubbed Wood 5-Light Chandelier
Arched Champagne Wall Mirror
Moravian Star 1-Light Pendant
Highback Armchair
Mini Pendant Light
White Vase Set
Round Woven Placemat Set
Cashmere Throw With Fringe
Wreath Doormat
Fireclay Farm Sink (Reinhard, 30″)
White Waffle Coverlet
Light Grey Vienna Quilt
Boheme Madera Bench
Belgian Linen Duvet Set
Round Marble Side Table
Rustic Pedestal Farm Table
Rattan Hanging Chair Swing